No Question Hour in the Winter Session too

Bhubaneswar, Nov 18: There will be no Question Hour during the coming Winter session of the state assembly, said Speaker Dr Surya Narayan Patro. Speaker Dr Patro said this after the all-party meeting held in the assembly premises to ensure smooth functioning of the coming Winter session commencing from November 20. The Question Hour will be suspended like the previous session in view of the Covid-19 restrictions, said the Speaker. However, reply to the written questions will be tabled in the House like the previous session. Besides, there will be discussions on adjournment motions, calling attention motions and legislative bills, he said.   There will be paperless transaction in the House from this time except the amendments, said Dr Patro. Leader of Opposition, Pradipta Kumar Naik, Congress Legislative Party leader, Narasingha Mishra and other senior MLAs pleaded for continuing the Question Hour. This will ensure the accountability of the government, they argued suggesting extension of the business hour. However, the demand was rejected by the Speaker taking the Covid-19 restrictions in view. The House will run for four and half hours daily ( 10.30 am - 1 pm and 3 pm - 5 pm). There will be 40 working days till December 31. At the outset on the Day 1, the House will condole the death of former Speaker Sarat Kumar Kar who passed away recently, recently deceased former members of the House, departed security personnel , who had laid down their lives for protection of the mother land and Covid warriors. The first half of the pre-launch proceeding of the House will be adjourned after the condolence motion. The supplementary budget for 2020-21 will be presented by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari in the afternoon session.   The Covid-19 test of the ministers, MLAs, assembly staff, government employees and journalists has begun. Only those test negative, will be allowed inside.